People in the Middle Ages, draw cards to get promoted

Chapter 877 Instigator

More and more Germans gathered around the scaffold.

Many of the poor German crusaders wore tattered old robes, had unkempt beards, chapped lips, and sallow faces, as if they had been cast in the same mold.

Those who were more elegantly dressed were mostly newcomers who had just arrived in the Holy Land from Europe and had not yet experienced the ravages of the protracted siege.

At first they just sang the "Hymn of Saint Losa" along with the Bohemian crusader, but they stopped because they gradually became thirsty.

A German knight put a sheepskin water bag to his mouth, but only squeezed out a few drops of water, which dripped onto his cracked lips and quickly disappeared without him having to swallow.

"The Gauls across the street are drinking wine, but we don't even have a jar of water!"

A high-pitched voice suddenly sounded.

"We have had enough of the unfair treatment!"

A group of Germanic Crusaders turned their eyes to a young soldier wearing a ragged smock with a bloodstained cross on his chest. He beat his chest and shouted:
"My dead were left unburied, my dearest friends were left unhealed, and the rich Gauls, who were born with a fertile soil that my German brothers did not have, lived a life of luxury, but never showed any generosity to their Christian brothers."

"They only say, look, those lazy and poor German rabble! Then shamelessly take away our war horses, let our knights lose their honor, and shamelessly say that this is the greatest contribution we can make to the holy war!"

These words expressed the thoughts of many German knights.

During this period, even the German nobles and knights had a hard time. This was probably the time when they could resonate most with the civilian pilgrims, and both of them started shouting out.

"Well said!"

They were unable to utter such logical words, and for a moment they all regarded the young man as a "mouth replacement", gathered around him and listened to his passionate speech.

The young soldier continued, “Jesus once said: Blessed are you poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.”

"Is it true that for a knight, being content with poverty is no longer a virtue, but a flaw that is criticized by others?"

"No, of course not! We Germans have the most diligent farmers and the bravest warriors in the world. We destroyed the old Western Empire and built a new one on its ruins. We kept the pagans out in the east and spread the glory of God to the barbarians. While we were fighting the Vikings and the Wends, the Gauls were enjoying a comfortable life in the west of the continent."

"My fellow Germans, we can no longer remain silent. The new king of Jerusalem has been crowned, and His Majesty Lothar will soon reign. We are no longer alone without support. We should stand up and demand what belongs to us from the Gauls!"

Leopold listened silently on the side. Although he did not identify with the so-called ethnic identity of the Germans, he surprisingly found it pleasing to the ear.

"This is a talent."

In the Middle Ages when everyone was receiving prenatal education, it was not easy to fully express one's own views.

The clergy often like to talk a lot, and they often say some maxims in Latin that people can't understand at all.

Anyone who can say such inspiring words is definitely not an ordinary person.

The red-robed witch snorted and said, "Even though he is a talented person, he still gives all the credit to you. He keeps saying Saint Rothschild, but don't you know that you are the representative of Emperor Henry now?"

"I'm not done yet."

"I actually doubt this guy's intentions. Although I don't like those Gauls, once the Crusaders really fall into division and even the shadow of civil war, the pagans will be the most proud."

Leopold sneered. For many kings and nobles, the Crusade to the East was a gilded journey. No one wanted to be a foil. This was human nature.

All the credit goes to Lothar, so what do others count for?
A migrant worker who traveled thousands of miles to come to the holy land? A green leaf beside the red flower?

"I heard that there were many educated Germans in Saladin's court."

"You think this young man is a slave of Saladin?"

The red-haired witch pursed her lips and said, "Do you want me to expose him? With just a dose of truth serum, he will tell the truth."

Leopold shook his head and chuckled, "No matter who he is, at least he speaks for the hearts and minds of our German brothers, doesn't he?"

The facts are there, and the conflict between the two sides cannot be resolved by simply covering someone's mouth.

"Like Richard said, I am not qualified to be on par with them, so let those who are qualified solve this matter."

Leopold's tone was somewhat gloating. After all, he had just arrived in the Holy Land not long ago. Even if a civil war scandal really broke out within the Crusaders, the first to bear the brunt would not be him, but the "Triumvirate" who held military and political power.

As the Germanic Crusaders in the camp became more and more excited, they began to pick up their weapons and bang their shields.

"fair!"

"just!"

"Food and water!"

"My German brothers, follow me and ask the Gauls and Lord Raymond for the supplies that should belong to us!"

The Gallic Crusaders in the opposite camp were also frightened by this scene and became alert.

They climbed up the wooden wall of the wooden camp, put up their shields, took out their bows and crossbows and aimed them at the shouting crowd below, as if they were preparing for war. This scene completely angered these Germanic Crusaders.

At some point, a cold arrow was shot from the Germanic Crusaders, and a noble who was loudly warning the Germans not to approach was shot in the throat by the arrow.

He covered his neck, unable to utter a word, and collapsed to the ground.

"Who shot the arrow?"

"We cannot turn our weapons against our Christian brothers!"

Some of the Germanic Crusaders who still had some sense began to panic.

"Crazy! Those Germans are crazy! They killed Sir Jones. Fight back! Fight back hard!"

The Gallic knights shouted.

Arrows rained down like raindrops, and many Germanic Crusaders who had not had time to put on their armor were shot down. The whole place was filled with wailing. This scene completely angered the remaining Germans, and they spontaneously raised their shields and pushed down the wooden wall.

"Fight them!"

Leopold looked at this scene with a frown on his face. "Pass my order immediately to stop this conflict!"

The situation developed too quickly and was somewhat beyond his control.

The camp on the opposite side was guarded by only a few nobles' private soldiers, and they were quickly defeated by the angry Germanic Crusaders. Although the conflict seemed massive, it actually affected only a few hundred people.

When they rushed into the Gaul camp and looted it, Leopold's soldiers also rushed over and surrounded them.

"Sir, we are only here to take back what we deserve!"

"They attacked us first!"

"Yes, sir, we were only forced to fight back."

These German Crusaders, who had killed the Gallic nobles and more than a dozen knights and sergeants, were surrounded by Leopold's soldiers and became terrified for a moment.

Leopold pinched his brows and said, "Go back to your camp immediately. No one is allowed to leave the camp without my order."

Although he watched the situation develop, he did not really want to trigger a civil war. By then, he and his men might not be able to remain unscathed. The key now lies in when Lothar can arrive. Otherwise, he alone cannot withstand the pressure from the three-headed alliance of the Military Council.

"Where's that cunning little bastard?"

The red-haired witch snorted softly, "Don't worry, I'm always keeping an eye on him, he can't run away."